Emergency exterior air-connection unit for submarines



J. P. AYER Oct. 15, 1929.

EMERGENCY EXTERIOR AIR CONNECTION UNIT FOR SUBMARINES Filed Jan. 26. 1928 John P.1L

(J BY Patented Oct. 15, 1929 PATENT OFFICE- J'OHN P. AYER, OF. PORTLAND, MAINE EMERGENCY EXTERIOR AIR-CONNECTION UNIT FOR SUBMARINES Application. filed January 26, 1928. Serial No. 249,669.

My invention relates to an apparatus for use in connection with rescue work on sunken submarines and has among the objects, the provision of means for making an emergency air connection through the hull of a sunken submarine for supplying air to the interior thereof.

Other objects of this invention are: the provision of a novel structural arrangement for effecting air line communication through the hull of a submarine from the exterior to the interior thereof; to provide means for er;- teriorly effecting an airline connection to the interior of the hull of a submarine; and generally the provision of a novel and improved air line connection.

With these, and such other objects in view as will be apparent from the description, the invention resides in the novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown one practical physical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a section through a portion of a submarine hull equipped with an inlet port cover and illustrating in elevation the specially designed wrench for manipulation externally of a submarine to remove the air port so inlet covering means. Y

Figure 2 is a similar section through a submarine hull illustrating the application of an air supply unit to the air inlet/port just before the closure means for the port has been removed.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the air port closure means taken internally of a submarine hull.

Figure 1 is a perspective of one element of the air port closure means.

Figure 5 is a perspective of an operating unit employed in connection with the air hose as shown inFigure 2.

The invention is shown in detail as applied to the hull 10-of a submarine and consists of an internal plate 11 rigidly attached to the interior face of the hull by a plurality of fastening elements such as rivets 12 and formed with an internal laterally extending neck 13 having an internal bore 14 therethrough and pending communicating at its outer end with an air port v15 formed through the submarine hull.

The neck 13 is both internally and externally threaded for the reception of closure means protecting the air inlet port against admission of water internally of the submarine.

This'closure means comprises a plurality of units, consisting in the present embodiment of an internal cap 16 secured in position ove'rv the externally threaded portion of the neck 13 for closing the inner end of the air inletbore 14, the cap having an internal annular shoulder 17 formed to seat in the inner opened end of the bore 14: to assist in closing the same when the cap is screwed down to fully closed position, as shown in Figure 1. The body of the cap 16 is provided on its inner face with a hexagonal socket 18 and on its external face with a tool engageable portion 19 whereby the cap may be removed or applied internally of the submarine if desired.

Cooperating with the cap 16 in forming the closure for the air port inlet 15is an externally threaded plug 20 which is applied externally of the submarine hull or from the outer face of the plate '11 as the case may be, de-

upon whether the closure assembly is an attached unit of the plate 11 before the plate is riveted in position or whether the closure means is applied after positioning of the plate. The plug 20 is threaded into the bore let in the neck 13 substantially filling the same and terminating adjacent the annular shoulder 17 carried by the internal cap :16. The outer end of; the plug 20 is formed with an internally extending hexagonal socket toreceiVe head 22 ofa wrench23 inanipulated externally of the submarine by passing the head through the hull inlet 15 into engagement with the socket21 of the plug 20, 9 as shown in Figure 1.

The air line connection as shown in Fig- .ureQ comprises a.v casting 24 formed with a longitudinal air line bore 25 therethrough and which is controlled by manipulation of a valve 26 carried by the casting. The hull en- "gageable end of the air line connection casting is'tapered to an externally threaded end 27 adapted to be threaded into the neck 13 afterthe plug 20 has been removed there- 1 trom. The opposite end of the casting has a threaded portion 28 for a conventional connection with an air hose, not shown, and laterally extending handles 29 are provided whereby the necessary rotation of the casting may be effected for screwing the end 27 into the neck 13.

The inner end 27 of the casting 24 is formed with a hexagonal socket for reception of the hexagonal connecting unit 30 which, as shown in Figure 2, extends between the inner end of the casting 24 and the cap 16, being seated in the hexagonal socket formed in the cap. It will be apparent that upon rotation of the casting 24 for completing its attaching engagement in the neck 13, the con nccting unit 30 will cause a corresponding rotation of the cap 16 to complete the unscrewing thereof from its engagement over the external portion 01" the neck 13. A loop 31 is formed in the outer end of the connector unit 30 whereby the same maybe attached by suitable means such as flexible wire, not shown, to some portion out the assembly of the casting 24 to prevent loss of the connector 30 when the same is being handled externally of the submarine. The attaching wire is, of course, removed before the connector 30 is inserted in position.

In the operation of the device, under normal operating conditions 01 a submarine, the cap 16 and the plug 20 are assembled in the position as shown in Figure 1 forming an eitective closure for the inlet 15. The plug 20 not only assists the internal cap 16 in cooperating therewith asa closure, but also protects the interior threading of the bore 14 to facilitate attachment of the air line connection. It will be understood that each compartment of a submarine is provided with a plurality oi air ports similar to. that shown and described so that any desired number may be utilized to establish a tree circulation of air through the compartment and for supplying food and water. In order to efiect the'air line connection, a diver operating externally of the submarine applies the wrench 23 to engage the hexagonal head 22 in the socket of the plug 20 manipulatlng, the wrench to remove the plug from its seat. When this isaccomplished, the,

connector unit is removed from its loss preventing attaching means and inserted in the receiving socket in the attaching end 27 of the air line casting 24. It desired, after removal of the plug 20, the wrench head 22 may be applied in the socket 18 of the internal cap for. starting the unscrewing oi the cap. The attaching end 27 of the air line connection is then inserted through the .bore 15 and threaded into the neck 13 in place of the plug 20, the connector 30 engaging in the cap socket 18 to rotate the cap simultaneously with the rotationot the casting 24 during its movement into the neck valve 26 opened, after which a blast of air is sent through the line which will force the connector unit 30 out of its seat in the end 27 carrying the cap 16 with it into the interior of the submarine and freeing the air line.

The steady supply of air is then sent through the connected line at any desired pressure.

l/Vhile in this preferred embodiment of the invention I have illustrated and described certain details entering into the construction and operation thereof, I desire it to be u1iderstood that the invention is not to be limited thereto but that any desired changes may be made in the structural details as will tall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

Emergency air connection means for sub marines, comprising the combination with a hull structure having an air port therethrough, oi a closure member detachably threaded thereover internally of the hull and having a polygonal socket in its external face, an air supply tube having a nozzle adapted for threaded attachment in and through said air port from the exterior of the hull, said nozzle having a polygonal socket provided in the walls of its bore, and a solid polygonal connecting plug seated in said nozzle socket for engagement in the socket of said closure member whereby to rotate said closure memher for detachment thereof upon attaching rotation of the said nozzle, said connecting plug being dischargeable tromsaid air supply unit by pneumatic pressure, and a control valve at the tubeend of said nozzle.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature.

f JOHN P. .AYEZ. 

